Woman Who Faked Mental Illness to Get Out of Jury Duty Pleads to Felony, Gets Deferred Adjudication

A Denver woman who faked mental illness and wore hair curlers and mismatched reindeer socks in an effort to avoid jury duty has taken a felony plea.

Susan A. Cole pleaded guilty Tuesday to attempting to influence a public servant and a misdemeanor perjury charge. She was given deferred adjudication and required to perform 40 hours of community service, the Denver Post reports.

Cole’s ploy was initially successful, but it was discovered months later when she told a radio audience about lying to get out of jury duty. Denver District Court Judge Anne Mansfield, who had overseen jury selection the day that Cole was in court, happened to be in the audience for the radio program.

Earlier coverage:

ABAJournal.com: “Woman Charged After On-Air Bragging of Ploy to Avoid Jury Duty; Judge Was a Listener”